Tubular-flood or sluice gate



P. SAMAIN.

' TUBULAR FLOOD 0R SLUICE GATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-26, 1919- Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

\XZIIETEEEBS v gate. The gates only UNITED STATES PIERRE SAMAIN, OFGUSY, FRANCE.

TUBULAR-FLOOD Specification of Letters Patent.

OR SLUICE GATE.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

Application filed August 26, 1919. Serial No. 320,053.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PIERRE SAMAIN, a citizenof the Republic of France, residing at Cusy, Haute-Sane, in the Republicof France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTubular-Flood or Sluice Gates, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in tubular flood or sluice gates.

By this invention the tubular gates are provided with floats, and meansfor varying their buoyancy and thus without having recourse to anyexternal force the opening and closlng of the gate is controlled or itsdegree of opening is merely regulated.

In order to facilitate the operation of the gate, springs may also beemployed which partially counter balance the weight of the comprise asingle movable member, namely the tube or shaft, the weight of whichwith an equal discharge, is from three to six times less than that ofordinary gates. They require no adjustment and do not necessitate anyoperating gear, the operation being done on the spot or at a distance bymerely drawing water from a reservoir. The invention with reference tothe accompanying drawings, shows by what means the invention is put inpractice.

Figure l is a sectional elevation through the axis of the tubular floodgate.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 shows a valve arrangement for the re-admission of air into thepipe in case of a vacuum occufing.

Now referring to the Figs. 1 and 2, the gate forming a float isconstituted by a tubular body 1 which is closed at its lower part by abottom 2. At the center there is a pipe 3 starting from the bottom andextending the whole height of the gate; it places the part beneath thegate in communication with the atmosphere. Two or more helical springs 4have their ends fixed to the bottom 2 of the gate and also to across-piece 5 by means of bolts 6 which enable the tension of the springto be regulated. The cross-piece 5 is mounted on the reservoir wall. Thetension of the springs is calculated so as to keep the sluice gate openand causing an abutment fixed in the interior of the tube 3 to lie withslight pressure against the lower end of the screw 19 which is screwedinto the cross-piece 5 to regulate the degree of opening of the floodgate.

The interior of the gate can be placed in communication with the waterof the up stream reservoir 8 by an aperture formed in a pipe 9discharging at the side of the gate.

This aperture serves as a seat for a valve, the spindle of which isindicated at 10 and the end of this spindle may be attracted by anelectromagnet 11 when the coil of the latter is energized by'an electriccurrent.

Another aperture formed in the bottom of the gate allows of the interiorbeing placedin communication with the pipe 12 for discharging downstream and this aperture serves as a seat for a valve, the spindle 13 ofwhich is controlled by an electromagnet 14. The electromagnets 11 and 14are fixed to the tubular gate and electric wires connect them with theremote station'from whence the gate is controlled.

The sluice gate is maintained in its rising and descending movement bylateral guides 15. The gate rests on its seat 16 by means of an annulargroove 17 placed on the periphery of its base and provided with a tightpacking.

The working of the gate is as follows The drawing shows the gate open.It is held in this position by its buoyancy and the tension of thesprings which counter bal ance its weight with a slight preponderance,the weight of the valve being also capable of being regulated by waterintroduced into the float. 7

To close the gate, electric current is transmitted to the electromagnet11 which lifts the spindle 10 and places the interior of the float incommunication with the water of I the upstream reservoir and it entersthe float weighting the gate 11. As the load of water increases thebuoyancy of the gate lessens and acts contrary to its springs so thatthe gate progressively descends until the annular groove 17 rests on itsseat 16 and thus the valve is completely closed. By switching off thecurrent at the electromagnet 11 the valve falls on its seat and thegate.

against the screw 19 screwed into the cross bar 5. By switching off thecurrent at the electromagnet 14, the valve of the rod-13 falls back onits seat and the gate remains 5 open.

It is evident that this same arrangement may serve for regulating theopening of the gate by charging the float to a greater or lesser degreeand thus this gate becomes a means for regulating the discharge.

Thus the gate also acts automatically for holding up the water of thereservoir in case of fracture of the pipe. Incase of fracture of thedown stream pipe, the water leaving the pipe 12 produces suction whichcauses a vacuum beneath the bottom of the float and the atmosphericpressure acting above, presses it down on its seat. At the same timethecentral pipe 3 allows of a rapid entry ofair into the top of the pipeand'protects it for a certain time against the crushing effect of theatmospheric pressure due to the instantaneous vacuum which may beproduced inside the pipe.

The arrangement hereinbefore described has the great advantage of notcomprising any gearing. The motive force for operating the gate isprovided by the water of the reservoir aided by the action of thesprings,

'30 the work of which is consequently very 11mited and there is nofrictional member which dispenses with the necessity of adjustment.

, In addition to the pipe 3 for the admission of air into the head ofthe down stream pipe when the gate is closed in order to complete thesecurity there is an automatic valve added to it which is shown inFig. 1. This valve 20 is in the form of a cup or basin to allow of aspring 21 being located therein 40 which counter-balances its weight.

In the case of vacuum in the pipe, the atmospheric pressure acts on theupper side of the valve 20 and moves the valve against the spring toallow air to pass round the basin. Valves of .the same kind may, ifdesired be suitably distributed along the pipe;

Instead of placing the valve on the pipe, it may be also placed beneathas shown in Fig. 3. A spherical valve 22 resting on a seat 23 fixed to atube 24 for the admission of air may be employed. An arch 25 above thevalve prevents the ball from escaping from its lodgment.

I declare that what I claim is 1. A flood or sluice gate comprising incombination a tubular body closed at the bottom forming a float,communicating means between the reservoir and said float, communicatingmeans between said float and the down stream, valves controlling theflow of water in and out of said float whereby the position of saidfloat is regulated and a tube extending from bottom to top of saidtubular body to connect the underside of the float with the atmosphere.

2. A flood or sluice gate comprising a tubular body forming a floatingvalve, means of communication between the reservoir and the down streamforming a valve seating, ports in said valve whereby water may enter orleave, means to regulate the position of said valve relatively to saidseating by the amount of water contained in said valve, and guidingmeans to insure the correct. vertical position of said valve relativelyto its seating.

3. A flood or sluice gate comprising in combination a float, portsallowing the communication of the inside of the float with the reservoirand down stream respectively, valves controlling said ports, means tooperate said valves, a down stream channel forming a seating for saidfloat, and means to regulate the vertical position or said floatrelatively to said seating.

4. In a flood or sluice gate thecombination of a float, valve controlledports allowing the flow of water in and out of said floatelectro-magnetic means to operate said valves to allow a predeterminedquantity of water to enter said float, and means to oppose the downwardmotion of said float and thewater contained therein.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto.

signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

p PIERRE SAMAIN. Witnesses:

MORAND,

L. BORWERET;

